Saving a Baby with Cancer
April 1, 2006 | Cancer and Tumors
It was a baffling medical emergency: an Everett baby who had been completely healthy suddenly seemed to be dying in his parent’s arms.
Brent Michael Emery was born last fall, the youngest of four children. But on Jan. 28, a trip to the emergency room for what seemed to be the stomach flu became a terrifying ordeal. Brent started having trouble breathing.
“He was just declining so rapidly that we, looking back, realized he was dying right there,” said his mother, Susan Emery. “We didn’t realize he was bleeding to death.”
Brent was immediately surrounded by ER doctors who put him on Airlift Northwest to Seattle’s Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center.
Doctors there discovered a tumor on his liver that had ruptured. He would need emergency surgery. His parents told him goodbye as he was wheeled into the OR.
“At that point it didn’t look like we’d ever see him again,” said his father, John Emery.” We didn’t know if we’d ever see him again or not.”
Children’s pediatric surgeon Dr. Patrick Healey performed that first life-saving surgery, but it was just the beginning.
“The next step was to remove the tumor, and that resulted in probably two thirds of his liver being removed,” Dr. Healey said.
In a miracle of nature, the liver can regrow and function normally. But this baby, who has now overcome six surgeries, faces something more. His tumor resulted from a rare but treatable form of cancer.
His parents say they’re grateful for the many medical heroes who helped them. Now they put their faith in his doctors, God and their baby to get through what lies ahead.
The next step in little Brent’s journey is just beginning. He has started chemotherapy to wipe out the remaining cancer.
So far Brent has spent two months at Children’s Hospital. Now, his family is looking forward to having him home in between chemotherapy treatments.